An analysis of US surface water monitoring records has found that less than 1% of chemicals of potential environmental concern have suitable monitoring data available. The researchers said the findings highlighted both the shortcomings of, and prospects for, macroscale chemical risk evaluations in the US and globally. The ever-increasing speed with which new chemicals are entering the environment has created a significant challenge for the assessment of environmental risks. To find out how the availability of surface water monitoring data affects the interpretation of chemical risk, the researchers compiled 112 million chemical monitoring records for almost 2000 chemicals, along with 78 million environmental records collated between 1958 and 2019 from across the US. They then linked this monitoring data with established toxicity thresholds collated from regulatory sources for over 170,000 chemicals.

Other US water pollution news:

• The Guardian (London, U.K.): Landmark US study reveals sewage sludge and wastewater plants tied to PFAS pollution